Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

And so the inquest will begin.

Wales are beaten at home by Fiji for the first time and with it, equal their worst ever run of defeats.

Not since 2003 have Wales lost 10 Test matches in a row but that is the unwanted milestone they have equalled today.

It had all looked so good early on when they led 14-3 after just 18 minutes, with Blair Murray scoring on his debut and the driving lineout winning a penalty try.

But a chaotic first half at one point saw three players in the sin-bin at the same time but Wales failed to make their numerical advantage count.

Instead they were outmuscled by the Fijian backs and wasteful in attack until Ellis Bevan brought them back to within two points.

Debate will rage over the 20-minute red card trial that allowed Fiji to return to full strength after Semi Redrada was sent off.

Pressure is sure to mount on Warren Gatland who has seven days to come up with a game plan and lift his players to take on Australia once again - buoyant from beating England.

Join us next Sunday to see if Wales can pull off something special.

Fiji head coach Mick Byrne said: "We are so pleased with the win. There are a lot of guys in the squad who have been out on that field in white jerseys before so to get this wins means so much.

"At half-time we knew the game was there to be had and we wanted to go and create some history.

"This is a great win for us and our programme and some of the young boys really stood up.

"But I am especially pleased for the older lads who have spilt blood here many times and now get to feel a win."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales coach Warren Gatland told TNT Sports: "We are disappointed but Istill thought there was lots of good stuff about today.

"We talked about what we’re doing in terms of some younger players and they will take a little bit of time.

"It’s our first game in the autumn and you fix a number of those things up and you get a different result the following week.

"We said we wanted to win the first two games, we started really well and we could have been 20 points to three up in that first half and that potentially changes it.

"You’ve got to take it on the chin.

"At the moment the criticism directed at me is probably a little bit easier, it’s not so much on the players, I’m reasonably comfortable with that.

"I’ve got broad enough shoulders to take that, but we will continue to work hard, keep our head down and we’ve got to come back and prove that for next week."

It was a thriller in Cardiff, although the disappointment for Wales is huge, and our man in the Principality Stadium Gareth Griffiths was there to report how it all unfolded.

Read it here:Wales equal record losing streak with Fiji defeat

Wales captain Dewi Lake just spoke of getting on the wrong side of the penalty count but the match statistics show they only conceded one more than Fiji (12-11).

The difference was surely Welsh inaccuracy, which to be fair, the skipper also highlighted.

Fiji made more metres (491-291), beat more defenders (32-23) and - crucially - won the turnover battle 10-5.

Image source, PA Media

Wales captain Dewi Lake told TNT Sport: "It’s tough to sum it up. We are massively disappointed, we set our stall out in the week that we were coming here to win. That was the message from the coaches but we didn’t do it.

"Credit to Fiji, they were excellent but discipline cost us in key areas.

"Our inaccuracy also cost us. We had a few opportunities in the red zone but we weren’t clinical enough. We made a number of chances in the opening 20 minutes and got a couple of tries, but we left two or three more out there.

"We were four points up at half-time, we felt comfortable, scored a couple of good tries and had one disallowed so we wanted to carry on doing what we were doing.

"But we didn’t build on that and got on the wrong side of the penalty count. We created opportunities but didn’t take them.

"We understand the pressure that is going to come on us now but it’s up to us to deal with that and right the wrongs."

Former Wales fly-half Dan Biggar told TNT Sports: "I suppose the decision has to be made this autumn. Clearly the way things are for Welsh rugby at the moment can't continue like this. You can't go 11, 12, 13 defeats on the spin without questions being asked.

"It's clearly a really really rough day for Welsh rugby and one that needs to lead to plenty of questions."

Image source, Getty Images

Fiji fly-half Caleb Muntz scored 19 points in a player of the match display.

He told TNT Sports: "This means a lot. We came on this November tour up against some quality sides and last week (at Scotland) inflicted some real wounds.

"We knew we had never won here (in Cardiff) before and after the loss at the World Cup last year, this win means a lot to everyone.

"We wanted to get a good start but I guess we did the same again with the cards. But we trusted in our defence and knew that if we kept the ball in attack, we could open some chinks in the armour and score points.

"We made a few wrong decisions but to hold out with that last lineout was brilliant from the boys."

Siwan Lillicrap
Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Wales

That was a well-deserved Fiji win.

I think they managed the game a lot better.

They went down to 13 players but they dug in and credit to them, they had lots of boys back in the mix today and it made a difference.

Cennydd Davies
Commentator on Radio Cymru

We wouldn't have had such a good game if they hadn't changed the red card rule.

It splits opinion of course but if Fiji were down to 14 we wouldn't have had such a competitive game.

Caryl James
Former Wales wing on BBC Radio Cymru

Fiji were excellent today. Their kicking game has come on so far. Normally kicking is a weakness for Fiji, but today Muntz was excellent in controlling the game, varying their attack and putting in excellent kicks at goal.

Fair play it was a great performance from Fiji.

Richie Rees
Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

What I will say is Fiji in that second half were outstanding.

They were controlled unbelievably well by their half-back pairing, they managed them around the field, they played when they needed to, they went to the air when they needed to and they played a game that suited Fiji and that's a difficult thing to do. It's something they haven't had in the locker over the last 30-40 years.

Ken Owens
Wales hooker on BBC Radio Cymru

Wales will be disappointed. There was a lot of good out there, they played the way they wanted to play, but they kept losing the physical battles and completely lost control of the game.

How heavy did the weight of history lay on the Welsh shoulders?

There is a real mental block here because as soon as the pressure came on, there were just too many individual errors.

It is... Wales run it out and the game is over.

Fiji have a first ever win in Cardiff and Wales fall to a 10th defeat in a row.

Oh dear.

Ryan Elias knocks on and that is probably it for Wales...

Gareth Rhys Owen
BBC Radio Wales commentator

Whatever happens from here on in, 2024 will be a year to forget for Warren Gatland and Wales.

Sam Costelow hoofs Wales up field with a 50-22 and this could be the game right here with this lineout.

Ken Owens
Wales hooker on BBC Radio Cymru

Wales are forcing the ball too much, when there's no options they're forcing the pass.

Fiji were under pressure there and Wales should've capitalised.

Today's attendance is 61,587.

Not sure how many will leave happy.